induce the Acadians to leave their rich farms and go to Louisbourg; but they would not.

The Oath of In 1714, when George I. came to the throne Allegiance. of England, the Acadians were required to take the oath of allegiance to him—that is, to swear to obey him—but De Vauclreuil threatened to set the In-

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dians upon them if they did so. Accordingly they refused to take the oath, and the governor of Nova Scotia, having few English soldiers or even colonists at his back, was too weak to force them to obey. Another governor, Philips, had no better success ; and soon they refused to sell food to the garrison. In 1720 they began to make a road by which to take their cattle out of the country; but Philips stopped the work, and forbade any family to take away more than two sheep. At last a few of the people near Annapolis consented to take the oath on condition that they were not to be asked to fight for King George. The rest refused to do even this, and